KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Marietta College softball team split its double header Thursday (March 14) with UMass. Boston and Swarthmore College. The Pioneers defeated the Beacons 4-2 in game one, but fell 7-1 to the Garnet in game two. With the split Marietta is now 6-2 on the season.
The Beacons jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Marietta responded with a four run third inning to take a 4-1 edge.
Britnee Kail (Dover, Ohio/Dover) led off the bottom of the third with a single into left field and
Alyssa Cook (Akron, Ohio/Ellet) reached on a throwing error by the catcher. The next batter up,
Maicy Kirk (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy Orange), singled and drove in Kail, and Watts who pinch ran for Cook advanced to third. After Kirk stole second,
Jordan Pallay (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Bradley) singled home Watts and putt runners on the corners for Marietta. The third run of the inning came on a double steal as Pallay took second and Kirk stole home. Later in the inning, a
Kayla Alderson (Houston, Pa./Chartiers-Houston) sacrifice fly plated Pallay.
UMass. Boston answered with a run in the top of the fifth, but the combination of
Jackie Mulvain (Warren, Ohio/Champion) and
Maddi Liston (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington Central) made the 4-2 lead hold up over the final two frames.
Mulvain started the game and pitched four and a third innings, as she allowed two runs on nine hits, and struck out five batters. Mulvain earned her third win on the season. Liston pitched two and two thirds innings of dominant relief. She did not allow a run, only allowed one hit, struck out four, and earned her first save of the year.
The Pioneers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning in game two. Cook singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kirk. Later in the inning
Ashton Helmke (Defiance, Ohio/Tinora) reached on an error to drive in Cook.
The Garnet answered back in the top half of the inning with a run to tie the game at 1-1. Swarthmore tacked on four runs in the bottom of the second, and grabbed a 5-1 lead.
After a scoreless third inning, the Garnet added a pair of runs in the fourth to take a 7-1 edge. The final three innings were scoreless and Marietta fell, 7-1.
Marietta will return to the diamond Friday (March 15) when they play Wisconsin Lutheran and St. Joseph College, with game one scheduled for 9:15 a.m.
Fans can follow all the Pioneer teams all year long at pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.
